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What To Do On Off Days

Training 2 to 3 days per week is great.

But you might be wondering, with 4 to 5 other days in the week, what else can I do to increase my activity?

Before you start thinking you need to sign up for unlimited sessions and train 5 days per week, here are some great options for your “off days.”

The simplest answer is this:

Do something active, but do not make your off days so hard that they hurt your recovery.

Here are some great options:

1. Go for a walk for 30 to 60 minutes

Walk in the neighborhood.

Walk in the park.

Walk with your family.

Listen to a podcast or audiobook and just keep moving. 🚶

2. Go for a hike for 30 to 60 minutes

A hike is a great way to stay active, get outside, and move without making the day feel like a formal workout.

3. Do steady cardio for 20 to 45 minutes

That could mean going for a run, using a bike, hopping on the elliptical, or using another machine you enjoy.

Keep the pace moderate and just focus on moving.

4. Do interval cardio for 10 to 30 minutes

You can also do cardio in intervals where you push harder for a short period and then recover before going again.

A simple option is a 3-to-1 rest-to-work ratio, which gives you enough recovery to push hard without making the session miserable.

5. Do yoga, Pilates, or barre

These can all be good off-day options if you enjoy them and they help you stay active.

6. Play your sport of choice

That could be tennis, golf, pickleball, basketball, or anything else you enjoy.

Just make sure you do not overdo it.

If you are not used to swinging a golf club, taking hundreds of hard swings may not be a great idea right now.

The same goes for field and court sports.

If you are not used to sprinting, decelerating, changing direction, jumping, or rotating at high speeds, start with a lighter volume and do not go at 100% effort right away.

It will take at least a couple of weeks to build some tolerance to those movements. ⛳

The main point is not that every off day needs to become another hard workout.

The point is to keep your activity level up, keep your body moving, and still leave yourself ready for your next strength session.

Takeaways:

1. Training 2 to 3 days per week is a great start, and your off days do not need to be intense to be useful.

2. Walking, cardio, classes, hiking, and sports are all good options for off days.

3. The goal is to stay active.

4. If you play a sport, ease into it instead of jumping right to high volume and high effort.

5. Off days should help you move more and feel better, not beat you up.

– James Pratt

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